Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026

Reconstitution of Basic Mitotic Spindles in Spherical Emulsion Droplets
Published on: August 13, 2016
Vesicles modulate an actin network for asymmetric spindle positioning
Zuzana Holubcová1, Gillian Howard, Melina Schuh
1Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK.
Abstract:
Actin networks drive many essential cellular processes, including cell migration, cytokinesis and tissue morphogenesis. However, how cells organize and regulate dynamic actin networks that consist of long, unbranched actin filaments is only poorly understood. This study in mouse oocytes reveals that cells can use vesicles as adaptable, motorized network nodes to regulate the dynamics and density of intracellular actin networks. In particular, Rab11a-positive vesicles drive the network dynamics in a myosin-Vb-dependent manner, and modulate the network density by sequestering and clustering the network's actin nucleators. We also report a simple way by which networks of different densities can be generated, namely by adjusting the number and volume of vesicles in the cell. This vesicle-based mechanism of actin network modulation is essential for asymmetric positioning of the meiotic spindle in mouse oocytes, a vital step in the development of a fertilizable egg in mammals.
Related Concept Videos
Spindle Assembly
In most cells, centrosomes are the primary microtubule nucleation centers. In the centrosome-mediated pathway, the G2-prophase transition triggers centrosome maturation and increased microtubule nucleation. Progressive nucleation results in a microtubule array...
The Movement of Organelles and Vesicles
Mechanism of Filopodia Formation
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...
Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration
Overview of Secretory Vesicles
Various proteins regulate the aggregation of molecules inside the secretory vesicles. Chromogranins...
Cell Motility through Blebbing
Blebbing Through the Matrix
In multicellular...

